[b]A MODEST PROPOSAL: Let us sell Nigeria and share the proceedings.



I pledge to Nigeria my country,
To be faithful, loyal and honest.
To serve Nigeria with all my strength,
To defend her unity,
And uphold her honor and glory.
So help me God.

When I was in elementary school, I said this every morning, five days a week throughout the academic year. I meant it then, and I mean it now. Even though I was young, I understood the weight and meaning behind the national pledge. It is a very sad thing to say, that many of our leaders cannot say the pledge, and it holds little meaning for majority of them. The need to serve is not their driving force, but something else on the other end of the spectrum. Some leaders’ idea of service is the opposite of everything on the National Pledge. The failure of the Nigerian project is evident to those who are not deluded or blinded by greed and ambition. There are evident symptoms… Let us just take a look at the most evident problem: the failure of the power sector.


The recent attempt of the minister of power to rationalize the failure of the government by proscribing rainfall as the culprit for the epileptic power supply is a very feeble attempt to justify the spending over the years. Every year, a substantial amount goes to improving the power supply but it is safe to say that the devils of corruption and mismanagement have come to stay in the Nigerian Power sector. So, where are we thriving? Is it the educational sector, sports, economics? Name it. Even the recent boom in agriculture has not reflected on the table of the common man. We keep changing our government, but it couldn’t have been more different if we had been electing the same person repeatedly. For the common man, it is like being stuck in a nightmare in which one does not even have the saving grace of waking up.
Nobody should argue since clearly, our form of democracy isn’t working. The hallmark of democracy is the ability of the populace to make educated decisions and vote leaders with the ability to develop the society. However, this is not the case in Nigeria as our Democracy is handicapped by the low level of literacy and the fact that every election has become a popularity contest. Our democracy is a kakistocracy. Politics is meant to be a tool of democracy but the reverse is the case in our beloved country. The fact that the Nigerian people do not even know what is good for them is troubling and it is setting the tone for the collapse/implosion that is waiting to happen. For a country divided so many ethnic and religious lines had given partisan politics the driving seat in our democracy. The poverty levels and illiteracy levels have formed a combo that have kept the Nigerian people on their knees in perpetual slavery.
Isolating our country would develop it. By isolating, I mean no one is allowed to travel out of the country for any reason, including the president. I know it is a crazy thing to say, but if that is the only way to develop Nigeria, then we must pursue this crazy “path”. If the president is not able to go abroad for treatment, and governors, senators and their families cannot benefit from “medical tourism”, I believe, a noticeable change would occur. Imagine that all government officials were bound to use only government hospitals, we would boast the best hospitals in the world(these people really love their lives).



I want to imagine the usual crucifixion and outcry the above paragraph will generate, but on reflection, we should ask ourselves. If we love this country so much, why do we get excited at the thought of leaving? However, if the whole populace cannot endure containment in “sweet” Nigeria, then let the decree cover all employees of the government and their families. As Murray Bruce mentioned earlier, people who wish to aspire to a position in government must be able to “relate” to all the “effects” their decisions would have.
• Ministers of education should be people who schooled in Nigeria and all their children schooled to the minimum of first degree in a public institution in Nigeria.
• Minister of health shouldn’t do medical tourism……….



I don’t know why Senator Murray Bruce was attacked for his “Common Sense” tirade. He made more sense when he was saying it until it was discovered that he printed his “Buy Naija” book in the US, when we have thousands of printing presses in the Mushin-Shomolu axis of Lagos. Sad hypocrisy. It all made sense until then. Still, listen to the message and ignore the mud on the messenger.


Lastly, I suggest, fellow Nigerians, if you feel my above points are too nonsensical to entertain, please humor me for this last one. I propose that we surrender our country to be colonized all over again by a country that has a good record in resource management. Surely, Nigeria during the colonial era is remembered as the “good old days” by those who are old enough to remember it. Any other setup will be better than our current wastefulness. If that is too much for the “Nigerian Pride” (which I think is nonexistent), I suggest that we sell the country and divide the proceedings amongst ourselves. That would have been the perfect proposal, but I forgot, our greatest strength is our sense of responsibility (a few of the proceeds will be diverted of course, but stealing is not corruption).
Maybe, just maybe, our benevolent elderly leaders would not hoard the proceeds of the sale in a mud house somewhere in the North and call it a gift!


segunoz1@gmail.com
Abeokuta, Nigeria
[/b]

but that's what the leaders of this country have been doing, or you think they are too slow

@xendra, you have a point there. I am just trying to make us see the futility of the direction in which we are headed. Nigeria is a country in great peril, but we are too distracted to be aware of it.

Who will even buy it?

lol, let us put it up for sale and see. The only problem of Nigeria is the people. Imagine all Nigerians were taken to a developed country and all the people in that country were brought here. Would it make any difference? It is just so sad that a country with so much potential is content to wallow in squalor.

chuksjuve:
Who will even buy it?

Hmmmm. As much as I love your ideas, they are not feasible. They will definitely not pass the law that will affect them nor is it possible to privatize a country.

You know May 29 makes it 19 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. I still believe this country is on the right track. We just need to continue improving on our electoral system.

Do you now know for you to be President, you must have some record of public service. Do you know more state governors are now performing because they know that's the only way for them to re-elected for the next term. Do you know more Nigerians are holding our leaders accountable.

Imagine where we'll be after 50 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. We are not there yet but we'll be there.

segunoz:
lol, let us put it up for sale and see. The only problem of Nigeria is the people. Imagine all Nigerians were taken to a developed country and all the people in that country were brought here. Would it make any difference? It is just so sad that a country with so much potential is content to wallow in squalor.

If we put up for sale , these same set of political vampires will buy it and we are back to square one!

Except the buying Clause will exclude Nigerians buyers.

luvmijeje:
Hmmmm. As much as I love your ideas, they are not feasible. They will definitely not pass the law that will affect them nor is it possible to privatize a country.

You know May 29 makes it 19 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. I still believe this country is on the right track. We just need to continue improving on our electoral system.

Do you now know for you to be President, you must have some record of public service. Do you know more state governors are now performing because they know that's the only way for them to re-elected for the next term. Do you know more Nigerians are holding our leaders accountable.

Imagine where we'll be after 50 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. We are not there yet but we'll be there.

celebrating years of interrupted democracy must not distract us from the fact that the power doesn't belong to the people yet. and the fact that the government isn't serving the people, but the reverse is the case.

segunoz:


celebrating years of interrupted democracy must not distract us from the fact that the power doesn't belong to the people yet. and the fact that the government isn't serving the people, but the reverse is the case.

What do you mean by the power doesn't belong to the people yet?

chuksjuve:


If we put up for sale , these same set of political vampires will buy it and we are back to square one!

Except the buying Clause will exclude Nigerians buyers.

obviously.

Can you imagine how people are being killed with impunity and the government is silent? All because of politics. It is a shame. Hundreds die monthly and nobody has been held responsible. nobody has lost his job? It is ridiculous.

luvmijeje:


What do you mean by the power doesn't belong to the people yet?

The house of representatives are not representing the people. The senate is a place of drama.

joining a political party is easy, winning the primaries is not. cos you don't belong to their club.

segunoz:

obviously.

Can you imagine how people are being killed with impunity and the government is silent? All because of politics. It is a shame. Hundreds die monthly and nobody has been held responsible. nobody has lost his job? It is ridiculous.

What saddens me is the fact that it's the poor and vulnerable that are killed.

God have mercy

luvmijeje:


What do you mean by the power doesn't belong to the people yet?

Power has never belonged to the people..
Don't fall for that slogan.. It's all a deceit.

The people are just the tools needed to make the politicians more powerful.

Power actually belongs to the elite..

chuksjuve:


What saddens me is the fact that it's the poor and vulnerable that are killed.

God have mercy

The truth is that Nigerians are not objective and this failed government will still get a second term. I am amazed when I see people turn a blind eye to what is happening because of stomach infrastructure.

segunoz:


The house of representatives are not representing the people. The senate is a place of drama.

joining a political party is easy, winning the primaries is not. cos you don't belong to their club.

I don't like it when someone give me these kinds of excuses.

The power to vote them out or to vote them in is still in the hands of people. As I said earlier, Nigerians political awareness has increased compared to four years ago.

I love sharing this example and I'm going to share it with you. The person who won the house seat in my constituency came out from Accord. He was formerly in APC but lost the primary and has to move to another party .

But the problem with moving to a new party is that you have to be truly popular with the masses compare to the old parties who has political structures to push you through whether you're popular or not.

You all want the easy way but it doesn't work for everyone who don't have the right connection.

chuksjuve:


Power has never belonged to the people..
Don't fall for that slogan.. It's all a deceit.

The people are just the tools needed to make the politicians more powerful.

Power actually belongs to the elite..

I beg to disagree with you. A sitting President was kicked out 3 years, so you have to see why I disagree with you.

luvmijeje:


I don't like it when someone give me these kinds of excuses.

The power to vote them out or to vote them in is still in the hands of people. As I said earlier, Nigerians political awareness has increased compared to four years ago.

I love sharing this example and I'm going to share it with you. The person who won the house seat in my constituency came out from Accord. He was formerly in APC but lost the primary and has to move to another party .

But the problem with moving to a new party is that you have to be truly popular with the masses compare to the old parties who has political structures to push you through whether you're popular or not.

You all want the easy way but it doesn't work for everyone who don't have the right connection.

the power to kick them out, when they cannot even get PVCs?

luvmijeje:


I beg to disagree with you. A sitting President was kicked out 3 years, so you have to see why I disagree with you.

that was a moment I will continue to remember with great fondness. but, can you honestly say the same could happen today

eyaaaaaa....



I can recite biafran anthem completely as of now but can't remember any line for Nigeria anthem.....

even the second stanza....i didn't know how it started.

segunoz:



that was a moment I will continue to remember with great fondness. but, can you honestly say the same could happen today

Get ready for the Tsunami that will hit the South West. As I said earlier, it's just 16 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. Other part of the country are catching up. It may not be fast as some people want it but Nigeria will get there.

luvmijeje:


Get ready for the Tsunami that will hit the South West. As I said earlier, it's just 16 years of uninterrupted democratic rule. Other part of the country are catching up. It may not be fast as some people want it but Nigeria will get there.

It is one way to look at it. I see an endless cycle until something gives.

segunoz:

It is one way to look at it. I see an endless cycle until something gives.

I'm not seeing an endless cycle. I'm seeing a country in progression encompassed with so much oppositions to its progression.

luvmijeje:


I'm not seeing an endless cycle. I'm seeing a country in progression encompassed with so much oppositions to its progression.

which is what I'm saying. it is a cycle until something gives.

the opposition is sufficient to stem the flow of development, hence a cycle.
"Vision 2020" is now an old song.
"Change" is now "Progress".

segunoz:


which is what I'm saying. it is a cycle until something gives.

the opposition is sufficient to stem the flow of development, hence a cycle.
"Vision 2020" is now an old song.
"Change" is now "Progress".

Oppositions move us higher in the ladder of progression. Opposition are necessary tools.

luvmijeje:


Oppositions move us higher in the ladder of progression. Opposition are necessary tools.

I'm not talking about political opposition. Im talking about developmental opposition which some of our leaders are good at...